The Mean Green ended year three of head coach Seth Littrell's tenure with a 9-4 record, matching their win total from last season. The last time the Mean Green won at least nine games back to back was in 1977 and 1978 under head coach Hayden Fry.

This year marked the Mean Green's third-straight bowl appearance and their first in the New Mexico Bowl. A bowl game next season would tie the school record for consecutive bowl appearances, which was set when UNT won four straight Sun Belt Conference championships and played in the New Orleans Bowl from 2001 to 2004.